Electric lighting fixture



June 13, 1939. G. E. M FADDEN ELECTRIC LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed March 24, 1957 INVENTOR Glenn 6. macfidden.

BY W @wm ATTORNEY Patented June 13, 1939 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,162,626 ELECTRIC LIGHTING FIXTURE Glenn E. MacFadden,

Markel Electric Products, 'Inc.,

Buffalo, N. Y., assignor to '3 Claims.

This invention relates to electric lighting fixtures of the kind which utilize diffusers for modifying the light emitted by the lamps and more particularly the invention is concerned with improvements in the holders which support the diffusers in the desired relation with respect .to the lamps.

One object of the invention is to provide for facility in attaching and detaching the diffusers.

A further object is to provide a novel design of holder for supporting the lamps and diffusers, whereby simplicity and economy in construction are obtained.

A still further object is. to provide a fixture which is pleasing and attractive in appearance.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fixture in which the features of the invention are incorporated.

Figure 2 is an enlarged top view showing one of the diffusers of the said fixture and the associated lamp and holder.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view and is taken along line 3,-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section taken along line 44 of Figure 3.

The features of the invention are illustrated, by way of example, in connection with a ceiling fixture of the pendent type. The said fixture includes a plurality of lamps 5 and associated diffusers 6 for modifying the emitted light, the said lamps and diffusers being carried by holders 1 which extend radially from the lower end of an ornamental body 8 by which the fixture is suspended from the ceiling. The diffusers 6 are preferably translucent, being formed of glass or any other suitable material. As shown, they are bowlshaped and are formed at the top with an inwardly directed flange 9 which provides a flare 9a and which terminates in a neck ID, the juncture of the said flange and neck providing an annular internal shoulder II.

Each of the holders 1 includes a head I2 which is in the general shape of a cross and a shank I3, the latter being suitably secured to the body 8 of the fixture by a screw I 4 (Figure 3). The vertical member I5 and the horizontal member I6 of the head I2 are arcuate in shape and their side walls follow the contour of the diffuser, the member I5 extending around both sides of the flare 9a and terminating at its top in the vicinity of the neck III while the member I6 engages the said flare at opposite sides of the said vertical member. The undersides of the horizontal and vertical members I? which communicates through an opening I8 with the interior of the body 8 of the fixture. That portion of the cavity I! which is delimited by the side walls of the upper section of the vertical member I5 is divided by a centrally located rib I 9 (Figure 4) into channels 20.

The inner ends of a strap 2| and a resilient strip 22 (Figure 3) are arranged in the cavity I1,

the said parts being secured in superposed relation to the rib I9 by a bolt 23. The outer end of the strap 2| carries a socket 24 for the lamp 5 with which the diffuser is associated, the wires 2411 which connect the terminals of the said socket to power being arranged in the channels 20 and passing through the opening I8 into the interior of the body 8 of the fixture. The outer end of the resilient strip 22 is formed in a loop which extends forwardly over the neck ID of the diffuser, the rearwardly extending portion of the said loop providing a finger 25 which projects under the shoulder II and which is formed with a forwardly curving terminal portion 26. The finger 25 engages the shoulder II and, being under tension, acts against'the latter, to hold the diifuser securely in the holder.

The diffuser may be readily detached from the holder by lifting its free side to rock the side which is engaged by the holder. As the difiuser is manipulated in the manner described the shoulder II is moved below the curved end of the finger 25, the said finger yielding slightly during the initial part of the movement of the diffuser and then returning to its normal position when it is released by the rib II. In attaching the diffuser to the holder it is first tilted so that the free side is the high side. The portion of the neck It! at the low side of the diffuser is then inserted under the curved end of the finger 25 and the diffuser is then rocked in the holder until it is fully seated. During such movement of the diffuser the finger 25 is first forced outwardly as the shoulder I I moves behind its curved end and then moves slightly toward its normal position as the shoulder passes behind the said curved end.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that as the shoulder H moves behind the finger 25, the latter is moved away from its normal position and is prevented from returning to such position by the said shoulder as long as the diffuser is attached. The finger 25, therefore, remains under tension to secure the diffuser tightly in the holder while enabling it to be detached and attached quickly and with facility. It will be noted that are arched to provide a cavity 2. the holder is located between the diffuser and the body of the fixture and is to a large degree concealed by the diffuser. The holder itself conceals the wires leading to the socket 24 and provides a support for the said socket. The construction described, therefore, is simple and economical in construction and has the further advantage that it enables the production of a fixture which is pleasing and attractive in appearance.

I claim as my invention:

1. An electric lighting fixture including a lamp,

a bowl-shaped diffuser for modifying the light emitted by said lamp, said diffuser having a flare and being formed at its open end with an inwardly directed flange, a holder for supporting said diffuser wholly by one side, said holder having a head which is formed to provide arcuate horizontal and vertical members, said vertical member fitting over said flare and terminating at its upper end in the vicinity of the open end of said diffuser while said horizontal member engages said flare at opposite sides of said vertical member, the under side of the upper end of said vertical member being recessed to provide a cavity and a strip which is secured in said cavity, said strip being formed to provide a resilient loop, the free end of said loop entering the open end of said diffuser and being formed to provide a finger which engages said flange behind the area engaged by said head, said finger being yieldable to release said diffuser when its free side is lifted.

2. An electric lighting fixture including a lamp, a socket for said lamp, a bowl-shaped diffuser for modifying the light emitted by said lamp, a

holder for supporting said diffuser wholly by one side, said holder having a head against which said diffuser fits, the under side of said head being recessed to provide a cavity and strips secured in said cavity one upon the other, one of said strips being formed to provide a resilient loop, the free end of which enters the open end of said diffuser to engage the latter behind the area engaged by said head, said free end bein yieldable to release said diffuser when its free side is lifted, the other of said strips having a portion which projects into said difiuser to provide a mounting for said socket.

3. An electric lighting fixture including a lamp, a socket for said lamp, a bowl-shaped diffuser for modifying the light emitted by said lamp, a holder for supporting said diffuser wholly by one side, said holder having a head against which said diffuser fits, the under side of said head being recessed to provide a cavity and strips secured in said cavity one upon the other, one of said strips being formed to provide a resilient loop, the free end of which enters the open end of said diffuser to engage the latter behind the area engaged by said head, said free end being yieldable to release said diffuser when its free side is lifted, the other of said strips having a portion which projects into said diffuser to provide a mounting for said socket, said head being formed with an opening which communicates with said cavity and through which the wires leading to said socket enter said cavity.

GLENN E. MACFADDEN. 

